THE BACHELOR FARMER (Minneapolis, MN): An old warehouse with blue gingham awnings and a rooftop garden, this hip spot dishes out fresh cuisine honoring the state’s Nordic heritage, including pheasant meatballs with Swiss chard and rye spaetzle pyttipanna.

THE GATHERING TABLE (Orient, IA): To celebrate its farm’s bountiful harvests, the Henry A. Wallace Country Life Center (a sustainable agriculture nonprofit) hosts a series of meals with menus often focused on seasonal ingredients.

LOU MALNATI'S PIZZERIA (Chicago, IL): With its oozing mozzarella and gleaming tomato sauce topcoat, Lou Malnati’s deep-dish pie is the best in its class.